novelraw Chapter 40 : Hundred-Day Star
Chapter 40 : Hundred-Day Star
Combined weapons were designed by Chen Sui's repair technician teacher from the wasteland world—the famous mechanical scholar and weapon designer, Zhang Que—based on the Beacon Squad's combat habits.
They could transform the team's offensive and defensive states, enabling multiple combat modes.
Chen Sui briefly explained the design concept.
Not only did the others listen with blood boiling in excitement, their faces flushed with eagerness to take weapons into energy fields immediately.
Even the typically calm and composed Xie Chunshi couldn't help but show a flicker in his eyes.
"However, this model's greatest requirement is team coordination. Additionally, you must be willing to melt down your previous weapons."
Her gaze landed on Xie Chunshi.
Noticing his expression, the others immediately became somber.
Their mechas, no matter how expensive, were just customized mechas. Xie Chunshi's mecha was different.
His mecha could be called a plaque in the Star Alliance mecha world.
Dating back to before the Star Alliance was established—a living antique.
Melt it down...
"This... Commander Xie wouldn't use Black Chastisement, would he...?"
Zhou Chen looked at Xie Chunshi through the screen. Black Chastisement held a unique status in the hearts of the Star Alliance people.
Xie Chunshi nodded understandingly, "It can be melted. I'm not using Black Chastisement. Let's discuss this at the school team building tomorrow."
Looking at the time, the Team Leader ended the brief meeting.
Chen Sui watched the communication disconnect, then turned to Gu Qinxue.
"Melting down Black Chastisement, isn't that somewhat inappropriate?"
Gu Qinxue shook her head: "The Team Leader's competition mecha isn't Black Chastisement. Black Chastisement is General Song Baining's mecha. He..."
At this point, Gu Qinxue abruptly stopped, seemingly touching on a secret that couldn't be mentioned, and changed the subject: "It's nothing. Your combined weapons idea is really good. It can complement the Team Leader's tactical arrangements and might have a different effect in the league competition."
Gu Qinxue wasn't the only one thinking this way.
That night, the light in the school team building suddenly turned on with a 'pop.'
Xie Chunshi pushed open the door and entered. He went to the data testing hall for recording mecha influences and opened the mecha projection.
The all-black mecha, compared to its complete state in the virtual battlefield, now appeared quite broken.
Its joints had been severely corroded by energy, the cloud pattern was half-scraped off, and the mecha's head had been pierced with a fist-sized hole.
The back was covered with rust-red scars.
This was the mecha Xie Chunshi had brought out from one of the ten major energy fields.
At that time, Song Baining had been missing for six years.
Xie Chunshi sighed and brought up another mecha model, marking the modifications Chen Sui wanted on it.
The new personalized mecha was a prototype designed when he was eight years old, a collaborative effort between Song Baining and Xie Liuyun.
Xie Chunshi later perfected it alone, giving it its current complete form.
Now, this mecha bore the thought traces of yet another person.
The school team's combined weapons plan was finalized the next day at noon.
After four full hours of discussion, they finally determined each person's weapon form.
Chen Sui drew one diagram after another. Seeing her drawing speed, the four discussing gradually lowered their voices, then slowly stopped, suddenly falling silent.
Chen Sui looked up from her busy work to see four pairs of eyes staring at her. Her hand holding the pen trembled slightly.
"What?"
She quietly shrank her body.
"Repair technicians don't all seem to be like you, do they?"
Zhou Chen asked suspiciously. His fingers picked up a diagram showing his square baton with subtle modifications, transforming it from pure assault to a walking generator that could release electricity in conjunction with Puluo's energy shield.
Every detail was clearly marked, filled with repair technician professional terms and symbols.
Chen Sui looked at it in confusion, asking: "Is there a problem with the diagram?"
Then she immediately denied it, "The diagrams I draw shouldn't have such errors."
She had strictly followed the Repair Technician Association's standards. Although some areas pushed the boundaries of textual interpretation, it was overall definitely a diagram that could pass any review.
Zhou Chen looked up: "The diagram has no problems. You have a problem."
Chen Sui: ?
"Please elaborate?"
She rolled her eyes up at Zhou Chen, revealing the lower whites of her eyes in mockery, with an arrogant 'let's see what nonsense you can say' attitude.
"Haven't you noticed," Zhou Chen placed both hands on the table, "your speed is a bit too fast?"
"I've discovered you truly are rebellious, rebellious to an extreme."
He nodded seriously.
"Diagrams like these are valued at 50,000 star coins on the StarNet, with production times ranging from one week to half a month. How long did it take you? Thirty minutes or fifty minutes?"
"How much?" Chen Sui only heard the star coin price.
She said softly: "The virtual battlefield only priced it at 28,000."
"The commercial department are all profiteers. Don't put it on the virtual battlefield, put it on the Star Ring Banquet online store."
Star Ring Banquet was also organized by the commercial department but partnered with the Border Army, with rich supply channels. It used an auction format where the highest bidder won, often driving up prices.
As he explained this, Chen Sui nodded vigorously.
"With your level and speed of drafting, if rated by the Repair Technician Association, it should be even higher."
Chen Sui currently only had a repair technician qualification certificate. Ratings required joining the Repair Technician Association. Previously, someone had invited her to join after paying membership fees, but Chen Sui refused.
Anything requiring money upfront was likely no good.
But now, driven by financial incentives, Chen Sui was interested in the Repair Technician Association again.
"Star Ring Banquet also has energy crystals and summoning body diagrams. Strictly speaking, analysts earn more."
Gu Qinxue patted Chen Sui, her eyes encouraging.
Chen Sui happily scribbled a few times on the table, gathering up the pile of diagrams she had drawn.
Dimples appeared faintly on her happy face.
"You make earning money sound so easy."
Gu Qinxue smiled with pressed lips, but before she could speak, Zhou Chen, who usually didn't get along well with Chen Sui, couldn't help but speak up for her.
"No, you're both a repair technician and a high-threshold analyst. Are you worried about money? Whatever you do, a house on Yuguang Star isn't a problem."
"Not to mention you're the school team analyst, about to compete in the Star League Competition. Any boss's advertising placement could directly gift you a house, move-in ready. Can you, can you, can you change your mindset?"
Zhou Chen watched her delighted by a small amount of money and couldn't help but choke a bit. Thinking about her background as an interstellar nomad, although he understood, he still explained with some frustration.
Chen Sui's eyes widened.
After speaking, Zhou Chen thought of her previous bits and pieces of work and couldn't help but advise: "Weapon design diagrams, summoning body blueprints, energy crystal analysis data, analysis equipment, etc., any one of these is enough for you to ghost-write on the forum for a year."
As he spoke, he covered his face.
How could Chen Sui live like this while sitting on a treasure trove?
"You're right."
Enlightened to new money-making paths by her teammate, Chen Sui's eyes sparkled with interest.
Zhou Chen, seeing his suggestion adopted, became even more earnest in his advice: "Yes, there are plenty of land tycoons on Star Ring Banquet. Even if what you make is average, it doesn't matter, trust me."
When he said these words, at this moment, he hadn't predicted that the name "Grass God" would extend beyond Zhu Jing Fu, beyond Yuguang Star.
Nor had he anticipated that one day, due to a casual suggestion, Chen Sui would become a renowned master in two major associations, a genius famous throughout the entire Star Ring.
At this point, having completed the weapon design diagrams, Chen Sui simply wanted to fill her small treasury.
She submitted all the materials involved, along with those for creating a personalized custom mecha, to Xie Chunshi.
"Some materials aren't easy to find. After I complete the analyst key courses, I'll go to Hundred-Day Star to see if there's a chance to find materials at the market."
Chen Sui was referring to her mecha framework.
The mecha framework is crucial to a mecha's overall performance. She had previously abandoned Taisui Sand partly because frameworks made from it were lightweight and provided high agility bonuses but lacked durability and resilience. Currently, lacking better replacement materials and finding her preselected materials somewhat unsuitable, Chen Sui had to postpone the framework production and first check out materials.
Hundred-Day Star is located in the Ninth Star Ring, near Zone Eleven.
Forward lies the once-famous mining star Kolis, backward is the largest parts production line, Chella Star.
The planet gathers material merchants from across the Star Alliance and even external star regions, making it the Star Alliance's largest material trading area.
After completing the mecha project, Chen Sui officially began her analyst course studies.
Through the Analyst Department's professional key, she could enter Zhu Jing Fu's holographic classroom.
Zhu Jing Fu is Seven Academy's unique ancient building, full of ancient charm combined with modern metal, creating a strange cultivation punk style. A transparent protective shield surrounds it, making the entire building impervious to fire and water, free from dust.
The interior of the building has been expanded into folded space. All civilizational records from the Star Alliance, from ancient times to the present, including texts and images, are stored here, locked by keys.
Seven Academy's Analyst Department key allowed Chen Sui to access all analyst courses in partnership with Seven Academy.
From these, she chose Vina as her teaching instructor.
One of the two known aggressive-flow analysts.
The other, Song Xingzhang, Vina's teacher, had too few remaining courses to help Chen Sui build her analyst framework.
The holographic learning content included simple theory and practice.
The practice process was conducted under the guidance of Analyst Department teachers.
After a month of seamless intensive learning, maximally compressing sleep time, with each day saturated by energy crystals and analyst courses.
Finally, in early May, Chen Sui successfully completed her first energy crystal analysis.
Taking 31 days.
In early May, Yang Qinhe was on rotation, observing Chen Sui's learning progress.
In the holographic training room, the micro-energy field equipment was opened. An energy crystal rotated in midair, surrounded by a ring of blue energy flowing light, like a satellite belt around a planet, floating and turning in Chen Sui's palm.
Green energy, like misty vapor, subtly permeated the energy crystal, analyzing values between different energy fluctuations through energy waves.
"Water attribute, attack 32, defense 40, agility 45, life 21."
Yang Qinhe's brow relaxed as he watched her open her eyes. He nodded, helping Chen Sui disperse the overflowing energy, commenting with admiration:
"Not bad, you've become very proficient in analyzing low-level crystals. Next, you can try high-level crystals."
Chen Sui breathed a sigh of relief, her heart relaxing a bit.
This month's schedule had been packed to the brim. Despite working almost without rest or sleep, she had still spent a long time crossing the analyst threshold, successfully putting theory into practice.
Yet she had only completed the lowest category of energy crystals.
Chen Sui internally felt a rare urgency but didn't show it on her face.
Yang Qinhe scanned the energy crystal's post-analysis condition, then turned to Chen Sui with advice:
"It's still the old issue. Your energy release precision is very good, but you're too eager. Analysts emphasize conservatism and withdrawal, whether on the battlefield or in energy crystal analysis and editing."
"Low-level crystals have high energy tolerance, so being aggressive isn't a mistake. But once the energy crystal level increases, like SS-level or SSS-level, even a slight energy error will increase the degradation, resulting in more loss than gain."
Yang Qinhe instructed earnestly.
Chen Sui nodded respectfully, taking the low-level crystal from his hand.
Seeing her lowered head and somewhat dejected expression, Yang Qinhe pressed his lips, coughed lightly a few times: "Of course, this is just a minor issue. Don't be discouraged. Being able to cross the practical threshold of analysis in such a short time is already excellent. Some small problems are inconsequential; just be mindful in the future."
Saying "excellent," Yang Qinhe felt he was being modest.
Currently, the fastest record for analyzing an energy crystal is 31 days, the same time as Chen Sui's.
However, Lal Nuo, who set the record, had studied analyst basics since childhood and took a full 31 days to bridge theory and practice at a time when his energy control and perception were at their peak.
In the same timeframe, Chen Sui was merely a pure novice who had contact with analyst courses for less than a month, a former interstellar nomad without any basic educational background.
Yang Qinhe's appreciation for talent flowed like a mighty river.
But Chen Sui's sharp display when facing energy bodies and her excessively violent energy fluctuations all declared that she was not the same type of analyst as Yang Qinhe, differing even from most current analysts.
Especially after learning that Chen Sui had chosen Vina as her holographic teacher.
Yang Qinhe could sense this regret more acutely.
Such a promising seedling, without guidance, surrounded entirely by defensive-flow analysts, had taken the path of aggressive flow.
His feelings strangely overlapped with those of Lal Nuo, He Lanyi, and others from years ago.
Song Xingzhang, you've harmed people!
Despite his lamentations, Yang Qinhe still looked at Chen Sui with a loving, elder-viewing-younger-generation gaze, teaching her to the best of his ability.
"For high-level energy crystals, take this to claim from logistics," Yang Qinhe handed Chen Sui a chip card. "If you need anything else, you can tell me."
Chen Sui nodded gratefully, "Good, thank you, teacher."
"Hmm, when are you departing?"
Yang Qinhe was referring to Chen Sui's plan to visit Hundred-Day Star.
Mentioning this, he frowned slightly, "Your coursework is heavy. After completing your own mecha, don't be distracted by these external matters. In the future, if you need any materials or components, seek help from mentors and the academy."
He only learned about her three-day leave request after she had booked the jump flight. Upon hearing it was for personalized mecha materials, Yang Qinhe directly stormed into the logistics system director's office with Yan Mingyu.
The school team analyst's tasks were heavy, yet logistics couldn't even manage a personalized custom mecha!
Who would be responsible for wasting the analyst's time!
Chen Sui lowered her head somewhat guiltily, blinking her eyes.
The logistics department had given her many options, but Chen Sui had an obsession with her mecha, wanting to replicate her original mecha form as much as possible, so she insisted on going to Hundred-Day Star to purchase materials herself.
The school team had barely approved her three-day leave.
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Hundred-Day Star.
To welcome repair technicians and material merchants from across the interstellar realm, the planet was well-prepared, with jump flights working overtime and the starport illuminated all night.
Chen Sui was awakened by the passenger cabin and disembarked from the jump ship.
Outside the Hundred-Day Star starport, direct routes to the material market were open, with diversely dressed crowds pushing toward the entrance.
She mingled in the crowd, jostled by the flow of people. Finally, as the crowd dispersed, she looked up to see a magnificent golden gate with huge metal letters, neon lights emitting brilliant rays in the dusky night.
"Hundred-Day Star, Hundred-Day Star, Material Market! Low-price discounts, rare metals, big clearance sale!"
"Energy field non-evolved materials, don't miss out as you pass by!"
"Mecha components, complete repair technician level certification, Star Ring Banquet cooperation document guaranteed, wholesale price, wholesale price."
Walking past the roadside metal showcases of hawkers, she arrived at the waste processing area.
The waste processing area was more suitable for repair technicians' stone gambling.
Just as unidentified crystals were a gamble for analysts.
Materials in the waste processing area were all unused new materials, some even without data testing or quality assurance. Whether you got good or bad items depended entirely on luck.
Most merchants here were energy field clearance hunters, employed by the Border Army or energy field management to help clear energy fields with excessive energy values.
"Hey, miss, want to look at some waste materials?"
A lean young woman wore clothing in an exotic style. She had light golden curly hair, skin with a warm glow, a high straight nose, deep eye sockets, and fox-like eyes that blinked mischievously. She cupped her face in her hands, leaning forward over the counter.
"Military academy student part-time job, honest to all ages, fair pricing!"
Seeing Chen Sui walk toward her stall, she quickly opened the counter's display light screen.
"These are all brought from energy fields. This part consists of stone materials from mining areas, without testing data, but you can explore them with mental power! What do you need?"
The young lady's voice was gentle and serene. Seeing Chen Sui's thin appearance and young age, she instinctively softened her voice. "Are you also a military academy student? I have student discounts!"
Chen Sui raised the tail of her eyebrow, instinctively asking: "So favorable?"
"Yes, just earning some pocket money!" She pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Boss, take a look, it's not a loss at all, the quality is very high!"
Selecting waste materials had no basis or reference; it relied solely on the repair technician's instinct and sensitivity to material testing.
Chen Sui dared to come here because, in the apocalyptic world, most materials had been processed through underground cities, transformed from waste into precious energy sources.
She and Professor Zhang Que, along with the underground city R&D team, had processed countless unknown materials. She had her own judgment method.
Chen Sui picked out several types from the waste, placing them in her hand to test. Mental power tendrils crawled over the gravel, sensing through subtle vibrations.
"These few," she selected a few fragment materials from the stall. Besides uncertainty, waste material had another drawback—scarcity. The mecha parts made from them were very limited, so many repair technicians wouldn't choose them as their first option.
Chen Sui came to the waste market not only to find the most suitable mecha materials but also with another purpose.
She clearly remembered the memory brought by the pendant, her spear piercing a human's forehead, penetrating an energy body.
Before her transmigration, Chen Sui had been fighting alien species in a contaminated zone. When that earth-shattering explosion occurred, she had still been piloting her mecha.
------Could her mecha have also come to this place?
As the largest material market and waste collection station, Hundred-Day Star might have mecha remnants appear.
"These few, about 10g in total."
The exotic-looking young lady placed the waste materials Chen Sui had chosen into a repair technician's special storage box. "Please keep it safe."
Having made her first sale, the young lady's face lit up with a bright smile, the totem stickers on her face moving with her cheek's curve.
Chen Sui's gaze lingered on her stickers for a moment.
The young lady noticed her attention and took out a sticker collection album from inside the counter: "Do you like these, miss?" She peeled off a sticker and placed it on the back of her hand. "These are merchandise from the Repair Technician Association. Join the Repair Technician Association, and you can get a complete set!"
Chen Sui nodded in understanding. The young lady held up her collection album: "If you like, you can take one with you. These are personified images of various materials."
As the album opened, Chen Sui's attention was drawn to a central figure—a golden-haired character topped with a shining halo.
"What material is this?"
The material personifications were Q-version drawings, looking especially cute, identifiable at a glance through color combinations and backgrounds. But for this golden figure, Chen Sui couldn't think of a matching material.
The young lady explained softly: "This is White Satin Gold Gilt. There are only three pieces in the Star Alliance, currently used on mechas Black—uh, Black Chastisement, Ghost Blade, and Song of Praise, which is displayed in the main star museum."
White Satin Gold Gilt, Chen Sui said to herself. She hadn't heard this name, but it felt somehow familiar.
"This material was forged by Master Jin. Since Master Jin disappeared into the star sea, no one has detected this metal again. It's a top-tier mecha material."
The young lady peeled off the sticker and handed it to Chen Sui: "Here, this is a gift for you."
She explained the properties of White Satin Gold Gilt, then marveled at the material's rarity. Chen Sui hesitantly accepted the sticker: "You only have one set of this collection album, right? If you give this to me, won't you be missing it?"
Her fox eyes curved, and she smiled adorably: "It's okay, you can buy this collection album on the StarNet, from second-hand sellers!"
"Since you're my first customer, it's an opening gift!"
She clenched her fist energetically, exclaiming with full vitality.
Chen Sui, influenced by her joyful mood, felt some of her fatigue dissipate. "Thank you."
"No problem, welcome back next time," she said, then covered her mouth. "Oh, I forgot, I won't be setting up here next time, haha. Boss, you can follow my StarNet shop. It partners with Star Ring Banquet and offers military academy student discounts!"
Saying this, she displayed a StarNet invitation code, looking expectantly at Chen Sui.
Seeing this, Chen Sui finally remembered what she had forgotten during these busy days.
She had forgotten about her money-making enterprise—her weapon design diagrams were still piled on her desk.
While scanning with her light brain, Chen Sui also observed the format of this StarNet shop.
"I've followed you."
She showed the girl, who was very happy and closed her collection album. "Thank you! This is all for you now!"
Chen Sui received a large box pushed into her arms, struggling to hold it. Seeing this, the girl helped support it, allowing her to place it into her spatial button.
"Oh, by the way, when purchasing materials in the online shop, mentioning my name gets you a discount. I'm Xie Yi, the 'Xie' from 'thank you,' the 'Yi' from 'pleasant scenery.'"
Chen Sui nodded quickly, in the midst of confusion discerning which two characters her name used.
"Okay, thank you."
Xie Yi's clear eyes observed her expression. Seeing no other reaction to her name, she couldn't help but pout slightly, quickly recovering before Chen Sui looked up.
"Walk carefully!"
She leaned her upper body over the counter, waving somewhat reluctantly.
Seeing Chen Sui walk toward the inner waste processing area, she hastily took out her light brain.
[Xie Scenery: Guess who I saw at Hundred-Day Star?]